Xvi WORCESTER. 



human anatomy was taught in the anatomical laboratory, but 

 later the anatomist in charge felt called upon to inaugurate 

 other work in mammalian anatomy and in comparative anatomy 

 as well. The histologist ultimately branched off into the em- 

 bryology of the chick and began to talk about giving courses in 

 comparative embryology. 



Here then, within the limits of a single institution, I had 

 observed no less than five different laboratories, each with its 

 staff of instructors, its library, its expensive instruments, ap- 

 paratus, and reagents; each more or less undermanned and 

 inadequately equipped; each duplicating or striving to dupli- 

 cate work carried on in one or more of the others. The result 

 was needless expense, lack of readily obtainable efficiency, and 

 constant bickering. 



Furthermore, there had come to my attention rather startling 

 instances of the duplication of scientific work in the depart- 

 ments at Washington. 



While the complete lack of adequate facilities for carrying 

 on imperatively necessary biological and chemical work which 

 confronted us when civil government was organized in the 

 Philippine Islands was appalling, I was nevertheless inclined to 

 derive comfort from the old saying "Blessed be nothing," for 

 we had at least the opportunity to start right, unhampered by 

 costly but antiquated equipment, by worthy but incompetent 

 investigators, or by quarrels as to who should do what needed 

 to be done. 



The materials with which to concoct a muddle worse than any 

 of those with which I was already familiar lay ready to hand. 

 At one time or another the Bureau of Customs has wished to 

 establish a chemical laboratory and a so-called "microscopic 

 laboratory." The Bureau of Forestry has thought that it 

 needed laboratories for chemical, botanical, and entomological 

 work. The Bureau of Agriculture has urged precisely similar 

 needs and has desired to take up bacteriological and pathological 

 work as well. The original Board of Health and its successor, 

 the Bureau of Health, have been disposed to demand laboratories 

 in which to conduct both routine work and original investiga- 



